On-Site Analyses as a Decision Support Tool for Dredging and Sustainable Sediment Management

Abstract

Beneficial use of dredged sediments, either in harbours or waterways, is based on their potential as alternative resources. Such sediments can be considered as bulk materials for industrial needs, which is predicated on their current waste status or meeting end-of-waste constraints. They also can be an integral part of beneficial use projects using sediments as a bulk component, including civil engineering and landscaping. This is particularly important for beneficial use projects focusing on climate change effects mitigation, such as flood protection works, coastline defence or littoral urban areas redevelopment. When dredged sediment is used as a bulk material, its acceptability is based on an assumed homogeneity of its properties. On-site analyses allow pre-dredging detailed mapping at a denser scale than laboratory ones; monitoring dredgings during operations and during processing; and continuous control of their properties at the implementation site. This is currently possible only for a selection of inorganic analytes. When dredgings are part of a larger beneficial use project, on-site analyses facilitate first the baseline survey and the sediment source characterisation. Continuous monitoring of the sediment load allows a fast detection of contamination hot spots and their adequate management. Site survey via on-site instruments allow end users and communities to check themselves the contamination level, hence acceptability is better. On-site dredged sediment analyses monitor both building properties and environmental compliance; soil and sediment analyses at receiving sites; surface and groundwater, either for impact assessment or for monitoring works. On-site instruments provide immediate results and allow dynamic or adaptive sampling strategies, as well as allowing operational decisions in real time. Confirmation by laboratory analyses is required for validation, but on-site sample screening for laboratory analyses improves their efficiency. The present paper was developed on the basis of an earlier presentation, which it developed and updated extensively.

How to Achieve Sustainably Beneficial Uses of Marine Sediments in Colombia?

“…For instance, Gang et al [34] have shown that high water contents with exceeded concentrations of HHMs, and a large fraction of fine particles in dredged materials could be successfully improved by mixing with S/S agents. Other authors [5,21,[35][36][37][38] have proposed assessment strategies and environmental tools for managing MSs. Pasciucco [17] and Barjoveanu [39] implemented a life cycle assessment (LCA) of the environmental impacts during the application of S/S to remediate MSs.…”

Repurposing Dredged Canal Sediment for Topsoil at Bowling, Scotland

“…Baseline characterization of a potential site is an important management tool for sediment reuse [22]. In advance of sediment emplacement, a comprehensive geochemical survey of the site was undertaken, supplemented by previous ground investigation reports.…”

Beneficial use of sediments, tools, pilot sites and measuring techniques developed and used within seven European Union INTERREG projects

“…On-site instruments provide immediate results and allow dynamic or adaptive sampling strategies, as well as allowing operational decisions in real time. Lemière et al (2022) provides an extensive overview of analytical techniques on-site and in the lab that were used for the pilot sites in the GedSet and SURICATES projects. In this paper, the focus is on the Portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) for solids and on the multiparametric probe for water.…”

“…The results of the on-site pXRF and multiprobe measurements for the three pilot locations, supplemented with alternative insite and near real time analyses, are published by Lemière et al (2022). As an example, the main potential source of metal contamination for the regeneration area at Bowling (Fig.…”